What Makes a Professional Photographer?

Every where I go someone tells me they are a photographer  – why? Because everyone has a cell phone.  Now I’m not discounting that at all.  Some cell phones take pretty pictures.  Hey some people have pretty nice cameras too – maybe even better than mine! (*gasp*) – So why hire a photographer when you have that latest and greatest iPhone or Samsung in your hand.

Let’s look at a few things.

Cell phones are great for selfies or other pictures that you don’t have to zoom in on.  Someone showed me a beautiful landscape picture they took on their cell phone and said oh don’t you see the eagle flying about – er um no…  So is this something that you are going to print out on your wall and display? Probably not.  (We won’t even discuss the quality of a bigger print from a cell phone)

So what happens when your grandparents are having their 50th wedding anniversary and you want a family portrait?   Who will take that??   My husband and I recently got married.  Yes, we hired a photographer (she was great by the way) and people used their cell phones of course.  Guess what, the cell phone pictures were free, but guess what photographs are hanging in our house? The professionals – why? They are nicely composed, have great exposure, are clear and look great blown up!

A Great Capture by a Trained Eye

Why yes, even you can be a photographer.  I have heard a lot of professional photographers get upset try to compare things – but my favorite is – you don’t go to a restaurant and call yourself a professional cook because you have the same ingredients at home and a nice oven.

What makes a photographer a professional?  In my humble opinion it is someone who has studied and continues to study the art of photography, it is someone who gets paid to do what they do, is registered and insured to do business in their state.  BUT there is also a viral image going around of a “professional” photographer who basically made their clients look like cartoons and thinks it looks great!  I urge you to check out various photographers – don’t just go by price.  Visit their studios, see their work,  see if you are a good fit for each other – what is you

r vision for your portraits and what is theirs?  I love talking to my clients before a session.  I love finding out what they like, what their home is like, what they are looking for in the way of portraits, framing, albums, etc.   When you check out photographers, check to make sure they are not cutting people out of the picture, do they have tree limbs growing out of their head, etc.   I want you to check out my work before you make an appointment, come talk to me – I’ll even go over my pricing with you upfront so you aren’t surprised.

As a professional I am constantly trying to learn new techniques and expand and grow.  I love the artwork of Tamara Lackey, Annie Leibovitz, Jordan Matter, Scott Robert Lim, Lindsey Adler, Scott Kelby and many more.  Check them out they are fantastic.  Then stop by the Village on High in Millville NJ (conveniently located near Vineland, Bridgeton, an hour from Philadelphia, and the beaches) and see my work.  Stop in and we’ll get some coffee and talk about your vision.